Roy Saari

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Roy Allen Saari (born February 25, 1945 in Buffalo , New York , † December 30, 2008 in Mammoth Lakes , California ) was an American world-class swimmer .

Life

Saari grew up in El Segundo , where his father swimming and water polo - coach at the local high school was. Between 1959 and 1969 he won a total of 33 freestyle swimming titles. In 1963 he won gold medals in the 400 m and 1,500 m freestyle at the Pan American Games . For the 1964 Summer Olympics , he qualified twice; in addition to individual and team freestyle swimming, he qualified with the US national water polo team , as did his brother Robert . Due to a rule at the time, he was not allowed to belong to both teams, so he chose freestyle swimming. With the team, he won gold in the 4 x 200 meter relay and a silver medal in the 400 m individual.

Saari studied law at Loyola Marymount University after the end of his sports career . He then worked as a lawyer in Orange County before moving to Mammoth Lakes where he worked as a realtor .

In 1976 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame .

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